History buffs to square off at N.C. Quiz Bowl

For the first time, people will be able to display their knowledge of North Carolina's past in a local contest open to history-savvy individuals.

The Lee County Library will host its first-ever North Carolina History Quiz Bowl next Tuesday, and Library Director Michael Matochik said competitors can win both bragging rights and cash prizes.

In years past, the library sponsored a similar contest centered around Civil War history, but Matochik said it was time to move on and focus on the state as a whole. Featuring questions on geography, sports, politics, the state's Native Americans and other relevant trivia categories, the contest is free to enter and to watch, and it will begin at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church — located next to the library.

It's open to people of all ages and backgrounds Matochik said, and even those who don't live in Lee County can participate. People can sign up by visiting the library, located at 107 Hawkins Ave., or by calling (919) 718-4665. Up to 20 people will be allowed to compete.

But for those who watched the recent high school quiz bowl tournament also sponsored by the library, Matochik said, they won't find many similarities. For starters, this tournament is focused entirely on North Carolina. There are also no teams allowed, and instead of being set up to reward the person fastest with a buzzer, this turn-based contest gives everyone a shot at glory.

"It's not a high-pressure thing," Matochik said. "The questions are presented like [the trivia show] "Jeopardy" on a screen, but each person gets his fair turn."

In addition to the Friends of the Library, the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum and the Museum of the Cape Fear are also helping with the contest. The event has been held in those museums' area in the past, and Matochik said he's grateful they're sending staff to Sanford to help develop the competition in this area.

For people who don't want to compete but still want to learn, he said, it can be a fun, alternative way to spend a night on the town — a sentiment library staffer Nathan McGeehee echoed in a press release.

"It is as much fun to be a member of the audience as it is to be on stage as a contestant," he said.